The Labor enquirer., 1887-01-01
An ArosrArH.
.x<ner Plays ~ gsssahing NY vefnss
nsiisfs ard Argues Ssr Ths
i. OsAsr 0sAs.
For the Enquirer.

Inspiration be- bssn Nsn important
factor In human a6sin since tho logic
Of savages conceived . spirit Nithin
every object that moved without vin-
bic. personal power. Certain persons
are chosen TO beinspired. and the choice
rs proved by the inspired persons them
selves, who need only announce that
they are inspired. No other proof was
ever offered. Savage reasoning still de-
mands manifestations Of spirits that
must exist, although no credence has
been given to anv inspiration since that
age when savage prophets were author.
ity. Probably he was most inspired who
could tell the biggest stories first, and
insist upon their truth with the greatest
audacitv. =
In announcing myself - an inspired
writer shall expect the usual proof to
be ample, and that anv skepticsl inquiry
on the subject will be deemed blasphe-
nous. Only on one point am l In doubt
cannot tell whether the owe rsliadow WING
spirit Is from above or below. But, as 1t
repudiates Socialism, denounces the
cause OF the lsborer and supports that ol
capital. and leans toward that Individu-
alism which would destroy all public
institutions. beneficial or evil /; in short.
a. this spirit advocates the kind OF Ind =
vidualistic Anarchy that now partially
prevails. / shall conclude that its abode
Is at least respectable.
Inow find that all social evils spring
from the abuses under which capitalists
suffer Those enterprises that are now
monopolized by the state might yield
fine income TO starving nabobs. Think
of the banks that might live and grow. II
the greenback we're only suppressed.
How many people. with brains common
TO the upper classes. are compelled to do
actual work, because no private profit is
made ost OF the mail systeol True,
large railroad contracts do leave big
margins (due to all massive intellects)
yet large, honest profit should be rea.s
lied on postage. The Anarchist is right
In contending tnst railroads shall re.
main In private hands, and that the
mails shall BIZ taken out Of the control
of a grasring public. so that capital may
increase by means the labor Of that
class who cannot tell when they are
plundered.
Let us see how the emancipation OF
capital could be attained BY turning
over to II other public enterprises. All
free schools should be closed then cap
talists could buy (not conascste) the
school houses, hire teachers, and charge
tuition enough from the opulent lsborer
to leave a large profit to reward them
for mental activity. Many a brain now
lies dormant because Of our school sys.
tenn. Destroy II, and these brains will
shine forth az capitalists -custodisns Of
public wealth. y
Competition would regulate every
thing; that is, schools situated ten miles
apart would compete with one another
unless thev pooled their interests 4 in
that case other capitalists could build
duplicate school houses adjacent 10 al |
the others and then compete Tor sell out
to the old ring).
When Justice Is done all the streets
and highways will be In private hands
and the old. glorious toll system will be
revived. cannot just now sav how
competition will operate in the toll gate
business. but merely suggest that the
streets be owned by two companies with
toll gate on each side. This would
make eight toll-gates at everv street :
tersection In large cities. II one at
tempted extortion, q pedestrian could
try another, and he must be fastldious
who cannot satisfy his taste amid such
q variety.
When the Labor party attains power
one Of the first acts must bs to put all
Y public wealth up at auction. Our public
library Is now taking the bread Of capi-
talists' childrens mouths. Every book
should yield tribute to those huge
mental aggregations ALWAYS found upon
capitalists shoulders. Book-rent could
be spent bv the owners for luxuries,
thus stimulating the, demand for labor.
The authorities will sell our sewer
system to the highest bidder. The pres
ent freedom Of access to sewers bv the
masses is not consistent with privilege
and vested rights. Sewer corporations
will build stations. say at every crossing,
and the people cen take their garbage
there to be- dumped. for which reason
able fee will be charged. according to
the amount Of refuse. To prevent mo-
nopoly, the streets can 6e torn up and
another system Of sewers be laid. The
public will have the benefit Of this com.
petition, for rival companies never com.
bine unless compelled TO do so by des.
potic state.
Recent philosophers have abandoned
the idea that there are anv essentially
public interests. Yet the old order is
adhered to tenaciouslv. Right here In
Chicago the. despots allow no frame
houses TO be built. on the foolish idea
that the fire Of 1871 could bv any posi-.
bility be repeated. There will be pros.
porous times for labor when We give all
~ II =